PubliCalendar: Secretary of War, Revealing Queer, and Lobbying for Transit.

Today's picks for civic nerds.

And as we published a few weeks ago in Advance Notice: Robert Gates served as Secretary of Defense under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he has the tell-all memoir to prove it.

Sharing his opinions on Congress, policy decisions, and political parties, Gates will be at Town Hall discussing his book and his political career. How many chances will you have to see a former head of the CIA and former Secretary of Defense in person?

Same-sex marriage is legal in Washington and Seattle has an openly gay mayor. We've come a long way in the fight for equality. And Revealing Queer, a new exhibit at MOHAI, shows just what that journey has looked like.

From the pre-Stonewall years to today, Revealing Queer chronicles the evolution of the Puget Sound LGBTQ community with photographs and artifacts from donors all over the country. Opening on Valentine's Day, this exhibit is the perfect way to study the history of romantic relationships and their impact on our culture, politics, and way of life.

Do you want to add chickens to your garden but you aren't sure how? Jessi Bloom, author of Free-Range Chicken Gardens, will teach you what you need to know, including which plants you should definitely use and how to design the perfect habitat.